Improvement in shoe-exhibitors



T. E. LEWIS. Shoe-Exhibitor.

No. 200,738. Patented Feb. 26,1878.

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N.FETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

' THOMAS E. LEWIS, OF VIOKSB URG, MISSISSIPPI.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOE-EXHIBITORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 200,738, dated February 26, 1878; application filed December 7, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. LEWIS, of Vicksburg, in the county of Warren and State of Mississippi, have invented an Improvement in Shoe-Holders, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to a shoe-holder to hold sample-shoes upon boxes placed on storeshelves. Theholder is composed of a distending device adapted to enter within the shoe, and a supporting pron g and hook, the former to support the distending device, and the latter to engage the edge of the shoe-box. In shoe-stores, it is customary to hang in front of each box a sample-shoe, it being suspended from the upper portion of the box by means of the string uniting the pair of shoes. This is objectionable, as the shoes hang very irregularly and the strings are frequentlybroken.

Holders have been devised to extend about the angle of the shoe, but such device does not so hold the shoe that it can be handled and turned about without fear of detaching the shoe from the holder.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents, in front view, one of my improved holders; Fig. 2, a side elevation, showing the holder applied to a portion of a box; and Fig. 3 shows, on a smaller scale, a shoe applied to the distending device, such figure illustrating the manner in which the shoe will be sustained.

The distending device a, preferably made of a piece of card-board, wood, or tin, shaped substantially as shown, to enter the shoe and extend forward within it, as at b, and toward or to the back portion thereof, has a suitable eye, 0, to be placed over the bent end of the supporting-prong 6, shown attached to ablock, rest, or portion, f, having arranged above it hooks h, made in two parts or made broad, to so engage and fit the upper edge of the box i as to steady the prong, the cover j fitting over the hook, as shown in Fig. 2.

The shoe k to be held by the holder is buttoned, tied, or otherwise fastened about the distending device, the latter being entirely concealed by the shoe, if it has a high top, as shown in Fig. 3, where the dotted lines represent the distender. The latter, the shoe be ing placed about it, is free to swing upon the supporting-prong, so that the shoe, so held, may be handled and turned freely without liability of becoming detached from the box. The end at will be so bent as to readily enter the hole 0, and extend down within the shoe at its top. This shoe-holder is easily applied, holds the shoe against liability of becoming detached when being handled or examined, and is cheap and effective for the purpose intended.

It is obvious, instead of the card-board or wooden distending device, that I may employ a wire bent into the outline of the edges 2 3 4.

I am aware that devices for hanging coats, which permit the turning or movement of the coat, and are provided with a distender, are old.

I claim- As a new article of manufacture, a shoeholder composed of a distending device, a, prong c to support it, a rest to bear against the front of the box, as described, and broad hook it to engage the box edge and steady the rest and prong.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOS. E. LEWIS. 

